Re: Wood chip mulch
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Wood chip mulch
- From: R* <m*@earthlink.net>
- Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 09:23:18 -0500
- References: <4e4d6e0b.3521bf5b@aol.com>
Meum71 wrote:
> I know its a commonly known fact that wood waste uses up nitrogen as it
> decomposes, but what i want to know is what happens to the N? Does it get
> given off as ammonia- do the bacteria turn it into protein for their growth
> - is it lost forever(as far as the garden goes) or merely unavailable for a
> period of time? Does anybody know?
> Brian
> http://vvv.com/~amdigest/cusheon.htm
> -- >>
> the Nitrogen is tied up IN the bactera and fungi. their populations exploid
> in numbers as they feed on the wood and each other. when they die the
> nitrogen is released again for use by plants.
>
Hi Brian,
The nitrogen present when the "hot mulch" is applied will be lost. Actually, as
the wood chips decompose, if there is not enough of a ratio of nitrogen available
for the carbon to decompose, the carbon will search for the nitrogen, even
stripping it from your plants and soil. Obviously, not good for growth.
However, when the organic material is decomposed, it will provide organics
(Nitrogen, etc.) for the plants.
Overall, I wouldn't suggest using any organic material as a mulch unless it was
already decomposed.
Rika Willow Pond Nursery http://www.willowpondnursery.com
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